First off, I need to thank my fans for buying this book, even though it took me forever to write it. When my father died in July 2013, I was beyond heartbroken, and never thought I could write again. He was (and is) the voice in my head. The hole in my heart will never be completely filled. But I did write again, and I thank you all for your patience and support.
Next, I need to thank some ladies who, when I said I wasn’t sure I could ever write again, just weren’t having it. To Kim Whalen, my agent, and Jennifer Weis, my editor: thank you for standing by me and not letting me quit. Even though I tried. Twice. (Frankly, I’d have fired my ass a long time ago.) You both had way more faith in me and my work than I had in myself, and I cannot put into words how life changing that turned out to be.
Finally, thank you to my friends and family who helped me get through losing the first man in my life: Brian Smith, Alex Gruenenfelder, Patrick Bishop, Quinn Cummings, Cormac Funge, Lila Funge, Jeff Greco, Jeff Greenstein, Brian Gordon, Dorothy Kozak, Blake Masters, Missy Masters, Laurie Lehman, Marcelline Love, Nancy Redd, Carolyn Townsend, and (again) Kim Whalen: You took care of me in the weeks and months afterward in quiet and profound ways: making me tea, forcing me to eat, driving me places, singing “Oh Danny Boy,” taking long walks with me, immediately picking up the phone in the middle of the night when I accidentally called, and coming to his funeral. I treasure you to a degree that would make your eyes roll. You made me feel loved and cared for at a time when I had absolutely nothing to give, and if weren’t for you, I would not have moved on to write this book (or done very much else for that matter). At the time, most of you had already lost a parent: which is, to quote Missy, “The shittiest club in the world to be a part of.” I will never be able to repay you—I will try like hell to pay it forward.
And as always, thank you, Jenn, Haley, Declan, Maibre, Rob, Carol, and Janis, and to all of my wonderful extended family and in-laws.
Oh! One more “Thank you!” to Brittany Ann Albaugh, for my wonderful title.